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| Screenshot of Ilia Mikerezi on an interview to ABCnews |
Albanians and Arbëresh continue to have strong genetic links, although five centuries have passed since this population settled in the south of Italy, says Ilia Mikerezi, a researcher at the Albanian Academy of Sciences.
"The genetic links between the Albanian population and the Albanian population living abroad, especially the Arbëresh populations in the south of Italy continue to have strong genetic links."
According to studies carried out by the Academy of Sciences, the Albanian population also has DNA links with the northern part of Greece.
"On the other hand, connections were observed as expected with the northern part of the population of Greece. This is expected because according to the scenarios determined by other studies it turns out that the migratory processes have been in this."
Regarding the numerous discussions about the similarity of Albanians with Turks, the researcher Ilia Mikerezi says that at the molecular level such a thing has not been proven.
"Studies have been done a lot of this nature, what is said is at the popular level. When we talk about genetic links, we talk at the molecular level, at DNA. Of course, if we talk about such connections, we have them in the Balkan area."
Academy of Sciences researchers aim to find out more about the genetic link with the Illyrians in the future because there are no DNA studies yet.
"We still don't have the links with the Illyrians at the molecular level, that of DNA, this is one of our goals. They are difficult jobs to carry out, but this is intended so that in a not too distant time we will have data of this nature."